Emotional or Psychological Child Abuse and the Great Balloon Hoax

The recent balloon hoax was not "a helluva good stunt"- as one television journalist calls it.

It inflicted child abuse upon a 6 year old named Falcon Heene and his two siblings. It is clearly emotional or psychological abuse when parents exploit their children and encourage them to develop inappropriate, illegal behaviors.

This was a pre-meditated act by parents who appear to be publicity whores. They will apparently do what it takes to get in the spotlight. They will use their children and commit illegal acts. It is reported that some flights at the Denver International Airport had to be changed to another runway. The National Guard had to scramble to obtain two helicopters to search for Falcon. These parents either don't get it...or they are just too self-centered to care.

My hunch is that we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg with the abusive behaviors in this family. Emotional or psychological abuse often consists of a pattern of behaviors by parents that interfere with a child's cognitive, emotional, psychological and/or social development. These are parents who not only exploited their children, but encouraged them to develop inappropriate, illegal behaviors. The big question is...what happened to 6 year old Falcon after he uttered, "You said we did this for the show?" Had Falcon's two siblings refused to sit, stoic in front of cameras, what could have happened to them? After all, their performances were vital to perpetuating the lies and deception. They were like puppets in the grand scheme of things. Sadly, they were manipulated by the very people who are supposed to love and care for them.

Should these Heene children be removed from the family home? Many say no because they are adamant that they do not want to see any child go to Children's Protective Services, or the State child welfare agency. If the children do not go with C.P.S. and there is domestic violence in the home, then the violence would have to be ignored. How can anyone who is sane and who has an intact conscience, ignore domestic violence? The truth is, lasting effects of abuse are inflicted upon children - even if the abuse is not being directly done to them. There was a prior "suspected" or "potential" incident of abuse in the Heene family home and authorities were contacted. The mother was encouraged to go to a safe house. Should authorities leave children in a possible dangerous situation, knowing their parents have put them in harm's way in the past? (storm chasing, for instance) If children go with C.P.S., won't they be at risk for abuse too? It is shameful that there is not a more solid, positive, nurturing system in place. In fact, it is downright cruel to our children.

In situations such as these, we do not appear to have a healthy option for these children. We should not be in this position, period. Most of us have seen the videos or are acquainted with families who have had C.P.S. involvement. Children are terrorized and scream as they are stripped from parent's arms because caseworkers are acting on "anonymous" or false allegation tips. Children are molested in State care. Children become "lost" in the system in State care. We have all heard the horror stories. C.P.S. needs to halt the deliberate breakdown of the family and change its focus to positive solutions for families. When does CPS clean up its act and start helping families instead of hurting and destroying them? People fear their tactics, however, do they fear them enough to deliberately leave children in abuse? Yes.

Well, Richard and Mayumi Heene had their day in the limelight. Apparently, it was planned months in advance. However, I do not think it is the type of publicity they planned. If they are found guilty, it makes them child abusers. Perhaps they are child abusers anyway, regardless of a verdict. Child abusers do not always leave visible bruises. Emotional or Psychological Child Abuse is as valid as a broken limb. We cannot say we are against child abuse, yet condone a specific "form" of it. You are either for child abuse, or you are against it.

What happens to these children now? Will there be future incidents of abuse? It is a tough call...either leave children in what is a suspected abusive home, or remove them, for placement in what could be an even worse situation. Must we choose between the lesser of two evils? It almost sounds like we are "playing the odds" with our children's lives. If we are going to think so little of our children that these are the only options... why don't we just flip a damn coin?